Milne says refugee policy 'defining issue of campaign'

Senator Milne sharply criticised Labor for its approach to refugees, telling the crowd that former prime minister Paul Keating's description of the Opposition as "mean and small" applied equally to the Government.

"The cruelty to refugees by the old parties is the defining issue of this election campaign," she said.

"That Labor can give up on such basic human principles and human rights in the rush to an election is the clearest evidence yet that they can no longer be trusted to stand up for what matters but will do whatever it takes to claim power.

"Paul Keating yesterday spoke of mean and small. I say his words apply to both the Coalition and Labor on refugee policy."

Senator Milne cited this week's damning finding from the United Nations' humans rights watchdog that Australia inflicted "cruel, inhuman and degrading" treatment on refugees held in detention.

She says the Greens want a full inquiry into Australia's asylum seeker policies.

"With Australia on the UN Security Council and set to host the G20, this is not just an embarrassment and a horror for the people involved, but it is an international body blow to our global standing," she said.

"As Australians, we are better than that.

"In the new parliament, the Greens will subject the policies of whoever is elected to the most rigorous and wide ranging Senate inquiry from the legal and constitutional affairs committee, calling on experts from around the world to comment on the legal, moral and global implications of the cruelty inflicted on refugees in the name of Australia."

New policies on air pollution, rental affordability

Senator Milne used the campaign launch to announce plans for a clean air act to lower pollution and improve public health.

"The Greens are already standing with communities all over Australia to say no to coal seam gas, no to expanded coal seam gas, no to expanded coal mining and yes to the health of our farmlands and our ground water systems," she said.

"[The act will require] the development of national standards and regulations for air quality, starting with better regulation of air quality from coal mines and coal fired power stations, requiring coal trains that pass through population centres to be covered and driving the installation of an air quality monitoring network capable of providing real-time data on pollution sources."

She also announced a proposal to extend the Government's national rental housing affordability scheme.

"We also have the only plan in this election to address housing affordability. When do we hear anything about housing?" she asked.

"The Greens will extend the national rental housing affordability scheme to ensure a further 70,000 dwellings in the next 10 years, 20,000 reserved for students.

"With courage and conviction, we can solve Australia's housing affordability crisis. We can ensure the basic right to a roof over our heads and make sure that that basic right is extended to everyone."

Party 'confident' of Adam Bandt's chances in Melbourne

Speaking to media after the launch, Senator Milne said the party was confident Adam Bandt would retain his seat in the House of Representatives.

Mr Bandt says the support he has received in Melbourne has been good, but he knows it will be a tough fight.

"The feedback I am getting from people is that they are preparing to change their votes," he said.

"Many of them have in fact already gone out to early voting and voted to change their votes.

"Someone rang me up during the week and said: 'Thanks for the information that you have sent me about how you will turn Australia into a more caring society and a cleaner economy. You treat voters like adults and you actually put out in front of us a clear plan to set Australia up for the 21st century. And that is not the kind of debate we have been hearing from the old parties'."

Mr Bandt holds Melbourne on a margin of 6 per cent, but faces a challenge from his Labor opponent in 2010, Cath Bowtell, who is contesting the seat again in this campaign.